Access to Information for Persons with Disabilities in Cambodia: Challenges and the Way Forward

By Chea
Phal and Bun Phoury

Access to information is a
fundamental human right, protected through the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities
(UNCRPD). Information enables individuals to make informed decisions,
participate in public life, and exercise their rights. Yet, for millions of
persons with disabilities worldwide, including in Cambodia, accessing essential
information remains a formidable challenge. Opportunities for persons with
disabilities are often restricted by systemic barriers and gaps in policy
implementation, hindering their full participation in society.

A recent project by the Cambodia Development Resource
Institute (CDRI), in collaboration with UNESCO Phnom Penh, highlights the current status of information
accessibility for persons with disabilities, explores the ongoing challenges,
and provides solutions to improve accessibility for a more inclusive Cambodian
society.

The State of Information Accessibility in Cambodia

Accessibility encompasses more than
physical barriers; it involves providing information in diverse formats
tailored to various disabilities, such as visual, auditory, mobility, or
cognitive impairments. For example:

• Visual impairments:
  Braille materials, screen readers, and audio descriptions
• Hearing impairments:
  Sign language, captioned videos, or written formats
• Cognitive
  disabilities: Simplified text and visual aids

In Cambodia,
accessibility challenges are especially pronounced among those with multiple
disabilities, older adults, people in poverty, low-education groups, rural
residents, and indigenous communities. The most accessed information relates to
society, culture, healthcare, education, and politics, often disseminated by
government agencies, NGOs, and other organisations. However, many formats fail
to meet the needs of diverse disability groups. A director of an Organisation
for Persons with Disabilities (OPD) in Kampong Chhnang gave a snapshot of the
state of information accessibility by persons with disabilities in the province
as follows:

“If a person is having difficulty in
seeing, we should not give them posters or pictures. Some posters or printed
materials are also made without consideration of people who have difficulties
seeing colours. If they cannot see or read, they will just keep that printed
material out of sight. There is no use for them anyway. There are job
opportunities for persons with disabilities, but the moment that information
reaches them, the deadline has already passed. Some job descriptions or
criteria are set too high for them to apply for. For example, cleaners need to
have a grade 12 certificate. We also encourage persons with disabilities to
help plant trees and take care of the environment, but they told us that they
want rice and food, not trees.”

Key Barriers to Accessibility

1.   
Policy Gaps

While Cambodia has made notable
progress in disability rights, including ratifying the UNCRPD and developing
the National Disability Strategic Plan, specific legislation on
information access remains absent. Existing policies are often vague and lack
actionable guidelines for government ministries and agencies on how to make
information accessible. As a result, persons with disabilities are frequently
left without critical information regarding healthcare, education, and
employment opportunities.

2.   
Limited Accessible Technology

Outside urban areas, assistive
technologies such as Braille, sign language resources, and digital tools are
scarce. Moreover, rural areas suffer from limited internet access and low
digital literacy, further marginalising persons with disabilities.

3.   
Socio-Cultural Stigma

Persons with disabilities frequently
encounter stigma and discrimination, which hinder their motivation and
confidence to seek information. Public officials and the general population
often lack awareness of the rights and needs of persons with disabilities,
perpetuating institutional and social barriers. 

Stories from the Ground

·  Difficulty in
seeing: Two
individuals with difficulty in seeing shared that although they graduated with
a degree, their blindness made finding employment nearly impossible, leading to
depression. 

“I am blind. Sometimes, some people
know it and they pity me, so they help support me. However, some people said
that I am blind, so I don’t have to know much information, and rather just stay
home instead. In some villages, they even told us that blind people don’t have
to make the national identification card because, in the end, there is no use.
I believe that such discrimination led me to not know any information about the
school for blind people.”

“Mostly, we are discriminated
against because we are blind. Only a small number of blind people really have
jobs, and those jobs are mainly not concerned with labour skills but their
knowledge. For example, when they complete their bachelor’s studies, it is rare
that they are recruited from both public and private sources. I think those
blind people are capable, but because of their blindness, it is very difficult
for them to get jobs although they graduate with a degree. This can cause
depression as well. I think they believed that they could find jobs when they
graduated, but everything turned out to be different; I am sure they are
depressed because of it.”

· Difficulty in
hearing and speaking: Local authorities often fail to obtain information from victims in cases
of injustice, such as sexual violence, due to communication barriers. In some
cases, victims are blamed for perceived “karma.”

“There are still a lot of injustice
cases happening to persons with disabilities who have difficulty in hearing and
communicating and/or have intellectual disabilities. Mostly, there are rape
cases in my region. However, the local authorities find it difficult to obtain
any information or evidence from persons with disabilities. Sometimes, they
blame victims for having karma from their past life instead.”

Pathways Forward

Cambodia
can foster more inclusive access to information by implementing a multi-pronged
approach:

1.   
Leveraging Technology

Assistive devices like screen
readers, text-to-speech applications, and captioning can bridge accessibility
gaps. Inclusive design for government websites and social media platforms can further
expand access of information for persons with disabilities.

2.   
Strengthening Community Support

NGOs, community groups, and families
play vital roles in sharing information, particularly in rural areas.
Capacity-building programmes can empower these groups to better support persons
with disabilities.

3.   
Developing and Reforming Policies and Implementation Capacities

Cambodia must develop inclusive
legal frameworks mandating accessible formats and ensuring accountability for
public and private sectors. Policies should be accompanied by national
guidelines to standardise implementation. Promotion for capacity-building programmes
that raise awareness of disability inclusion, information accessibility, and
digital and media literacy across national, sub-national, and local levels
should be in place.

4.   
Tackling Stigma

Public awareness campaigns can
challenge discriminatory attitudes and promote a more inclusive society,
encouraging persons with disabilities to seek information confidently.

A Call to Action

Achieving inclusive access to
information in Cambodia requires collaboration among government, NGOs,
communities, and individuals. By addressing policy gaps, strengthening disability
inclusion capacity among stakeholders, leveraging technology, and challenging
societal stigma, Cambodia can create a more equitable environment where all
citizens, regardless of ability, can thrive.